The Center for Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, Ukraine’s largest specialized cardiac clinic, suffered severe damage as a result of a missile strike on the Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital. Each year, this institution performed over 1,000 surgeries and provided 20,000 consultations for children from across the country.

To help restore this vital medical facility, PepsiCo Ukraine and the “Tvoya Opora” Charitable Foundation joined forces. As part of their partnership, the two sides signed a memorandum of cooperation and launched a large-scale project to rebuild the Center’s surgical and intensive care unit.

PepsiCo Ukraine allocated $1 million USD to support the joint project “Overcoming the Consequences of the Missile Strike on Okhmatdyt” implemented by the “Tvoya Opora” Foundation.
Within this initiative, part of the funds were directed toward restoring the intensive care and surgical blocks of the State Institution “Scientific and Practical Medical Center for Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine”, as well as purchasing a modern reanimobile (ambulance) — for a total exceeding ₴36 million.

Reopening of the Rebuilt Unit

On October 22, 2025, the renovated surgical and intensive care unit was officially reopened. The Center is now equipped with 16 state-of-the-art monitoring stations of Japanese manufacture, ensuring the intensive care department for children is now fully outfitted.
Dr. Illia Yemets, Director of the Center, appealed to the international community with a call to help rebuild the facility.

Valeria Tatarchuk, Founder and CEO of the “Tvoya Opora” Foundation, shared:

“Thanks to the support of PepsiCo Ukraine, we were able to equip the Center with advanced integrated systems that provide round-the-clock monitoring of young patients in intensive care. This new technology allows for more complex and precise medical supervision and treatment. We also purchased a much-needed reanimobile.”

Corporate Responsibility and Partnership

This support from PepsiCo Ukraine and “Tvoya Opora” represents a crucial step toward restoring the Center’s full functionality after the tragedy and strengthening Ukraine’s pediatric cardiac care system overall.

Olena Kutina, General Director of PepsiCo Ukraine, commented:

“As one of the leaders of Ukraine’s food and beverage industry, we are committed to responsible business — providing high-quality products, contributing to economic stability, and supporting our communities.
Since 2022, PepsiCo Ukraine has directed over ₴200 million to charitable initiatives.
Restoring the surgical and intensive care block of the Center for Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery is an example of how partnership between business and the nonprofit sector can bring real change.
We are sincerely grateful to the Center’s doctors for their tireless work and to the Tvoya Opora team for their professional implementation of this important project.”

Deputy Minister of Health Edem Adamanov added:

“This Center saves the lives of children born with the most complex heart defects. Its restoration is vital not only for the medical community but for the entire country.
We thank PepsiCo Ukraine and the Tvoya Opora Foundation for their responsible partnership, which delivers tangible results and helps our healthcare system not only endure but evolve.”

Significance for Ukraine’s Children

Every year, around 3,500 children in Ukraine are born with heart defects, and up to 40% of them are in critical condition from birth.
Modern monitoring systems now installed at the Center will ensure the highest level of care, prevent complications, and enable timely medical interventions.

Andriy Hunder, President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine, remarked:

“Businesses in Ukraine are not only continuing to operate and invest, but also contributing to the restoration of critical healthcare infrastructure.
Supporting the Center is an example of genuine corporate social responsibility and leadership that changes children’s lives and strengthens faith in the power of partnership between business and society.”

Doctors’ Perspective

Vadym Tkachuk, Head of the Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care for Newborns at the Center, noted:

“Thanks to the assistance from the Tvoya Opora Foundation and PepsiCo Ukraine, we completely renewed our monitoring systems — the foundation of our work. Without them, modern cardiac intensive care cannot function. Our old equipment served for over 20 years — it was reliable but outdated and no longer met today’s standards.”

Previous Collaboration

This project continues the long-standing partnership between PepsiCo Ukraine and the Tvoya Opora Foundation. Previously, three modern reanimobiles were delivered to medical institutions specializing in neonatal and pediatric care:

Regional Family Health Medical Center (Dnipro)

Kyiv Perinatal Center

State Scientific and Practical Medical Center for Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery

These specialized ambulances are equipped with cutting-edge systems for stabilizing vital functions of young patients during transport — including lung ventilation, cardiac monitoring, and temperature control systems.